Petroleum oil vaporizer

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR PRODUCING VAPOR FROM A PETROLEUM PRODUCT SUCH AS GASOLINE OR THE LIKE, THE DEVICE COMPRISING A COMPRESSED VAPOR TANK WHICH INTERCEPTS A VAPOR LINEBETWEEN A GASOLINE TANK AND EITHER A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM OR A CARBURETOR OF A GASOLINE ENGINE, THE GASOLINE TANK IN THE PRESENT INVENTION HAVING A LOWER SECTION FOR LIQUID GASOLINE ABOVE WHICH THERE IS A VAPORIIZING SPACE AND A BAFFLE PLATE WITH FOUR DRAIN OPENINGS, THERE BEING ADDITIONALLY A SPRAY PIPE OF PERFORATED TYPE ALONG THE APEX OF AN INVERTED V-SHAPED BAFFLE ABOVE WHICH THERE IS A ZIG-ZAG PATH FORMED BY PARALLEL BAFFLES, THE PATH LEADING TO A GAS DOME VAPOR COLLECTOR, THE COLLECTOR BEING CONNECTED TO AVAPOR COMPRESSOR FORM WHICH A DISCHARGE EXTENDS TO THE COMPRESSED VAPOR TANK AND FROM THERE THROUGH A LINE TO THE CARBURETOR OR INJECTION SYSTEM OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

' Apri117,1973 -J.J.GQRMAN,JR' 3,728,092

PETROLEUM OIL VAPORIZER Filed Jan. 14, 1971 'Fl-G y f@ l .'VVEN'TOR.

United States Patent Oilice 3,728,092 Patented Apr. 17, 1973 3,728,092 PETROLEUM OIL VAPORIZER James J. Gorman, Jr., 207 Tanglewood Ave., Charleston, S.C. 29407 Filed Jan. 14, 1971, Ser. No. 106,407 Int. Cl. F02m 31/12 U.S. Cl. 48-102 R 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for producing vapor from a petroleum product such as gasoline or the like, the device comprising a compressed vapor tank which intercepts a vapor line between a gasoline tank and either a fuel injection system or a carburetor of a gasoline engine, the gasoline tank in the present invention having a lower section for liquid gasoline above which there is a vaporizing space and a baille plate with four drain openings, there being additionally a spray pipe of perforated type along the apex of an inverted V-shaped baille above which there is a Zig-Zag path formed by parallel bailles, the path leading to a gas dome vapor collector, the collector being connected to a vapor compressor form which a discharge extends to the compressed vapor tank and from there through a line to the carburetor or injection system of an internal combustion engine.

This invention relates generally to -a separate system for vaporizing gasoline fuel or the like for use in an internal combustion engine or other fuel consuming systems.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device for the production of vapor from any petroleum product such as gasoline, bunker oil, kersosene, various grades of heating oil and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means to produce vapor from any petroleum product by raising or lowering the temperature of the various grades of oil in use with the system.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a petroleum oil vaporizer which increases the eiliciency of the internal combustion engine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a petroleum oil vaporizer which will reduce air pollution to a minimum.

Other objects of the p-resent invention are to provide a petroleum oil vaporizer which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and practical in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following speciiication together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic, partially in section, view of the vaporizer, Iand FIG. 2 is an end elevation view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a petroleum oil to gas vaporizer, according to the present invention, wherein there is a gasoline tank 11 having a lower section 12 wherein 2O gallons of liquid gasoline can be contained and which is received into the section l2 by means of a gasoline iilling pipe 13, the upper end of which is closed by a iiller cap. Above the section 12 there is a vacuum space 14 and a baille plate 15 having four drain openings 16. Thereabove there is `an area 17 having a longitudinally extending spray pipe 18 with a plurality of spray openings 19 along the length thereof. The spray pipe 18 is positioned within an apex area 20 formed below an inverted V-shaped baille 21.

One end of the spray pipe 18 extends outwardly of the gasoline tank 11 and is connected by means of pipe 22 to a pump 23 that is powered by an electric motor 24.

The pump is connected by means of aline 26a to a gasoline heating sump 25. The line 26a has a branched-off line 26, the latter connecting at its opposite end with space 14, thus to serve as a pump vent.

Above the inverted V-shaped baille 21 there is a series of parallel, spaced apart bailles 27 which serve to form a zing-zag or tortuous winding path 28 which communicates from the vaporizing space 20 to a vapor dome collector 29 positioned directly above the inverted V-shaped baflle. The dome 29 is a suction dome with a relief valve 30.

A line 31 is connected at one end to the dome 29 and is connected at its opposite end to a vapor compressor 32 which is powered by an electric motor 33. A line 34 is connected at one end to the vapor compressor 32, the opposite end of the line 34 being connected to one end of a compressed vapor tank 35. A line 36 is connected at one end to the compressed vapor tank 35, the opposite end of the line 36 being connected to carburetor 37 of an internal combustion gas engine 38, the carburetor 37 being provided with special jets for compressed vapor use. The line 36 is intercepted by a magnetic stop or discharge valve 39. A pressure switch 40 is connected to the compressed vapor tank and serves to start and stop the vapor compressor and circulating pump motors.

A magnetic blow down line 41 communicates with space 14 of the gasoline tank 11, the magnetic blow down line 41 being intercepted by a valve 42 operated by a magnet 43. A thermostatic steam, electric or hot water heater 44 extends into the compressed vapor tank as shown at 45. As shown in FIG. 2, an electric, hot water or steam heater 46 extends into the gasoline heating sump 25 as shown at 47. An outlet 48 in the bottom of the liquid gasoline section 12 communicates with the gasoline heating sump located therebelow.

The theory of operation for the gasoline to gas vaporizer is as follows:

The gasoline tank 11 is iilled to a high level in section 12. The space 14 above the gasoline will be under a partial vacuum and the vacuum created by the vapor compressor 32. The liquid gasoline will be heated by the heating unit 47 located in the gasoline heating sump 25. The gasoline pump 23 takes a suction from the bottom of the heating sump and pumps it to the spray line 18. The heated gasoline discharges from the spray line and strikes the inverted V-shaped baille 21 thus causing the heated spray of gasoline to disperse into line liquid particles and flash to a vapor in the partial vacuum of the vaporizing space 20. The vapor compressor 32 takes the suction from the compressor suction dome or the gas dome collector 29 located in the top of the gasoline tank and pumps olf the vapor collecting there. It also maintains a partial vacuum in the vapor space 20 and space 114. The compressor 32 discharges the vapor to the cornpressed vapor tank 35 and from there to the carburetor of the internal combustion engine. Whatever gasoline that does not ilash to a vapor is returned to the liquid gasoline section 12 through the drain openings 1-6 in the baille 15, and the cycle repeats itself as long as the system is in operation. The pressure switch on the compressed vapor tank as shown at 40 will regulate the compressor 32 and the gasoline pump 23. When the pressure drops below 60 lbs. per square inch it will start the compressor and pump and when the pressure reaches lbs. per square inch it will then stop the compressor and pump.

The thermostatic heater will be set to maintain a temperature on the gasoline at about degrees F. The vapor passes from the vaporizing section 20 around the diagonally downward edges of the inverted V-shaped baille and then changes direction several times in a zig-zag manner through the diagonally inclined and parallel baiiles 27, the vapor thus passing to the vapor dome collector where the compressor 32 takes its suction. The installation of a heater in the compressed vapor tank 35 will maintain the gas temperature to prevent condensation due to outside air temperature.

What I now claim is:

1. In a petroleum oil vaporizer, the combination of a gasoline tank including a bottom section for receiving liquid gasoline, a space above said bottom section having a baie therein, a vapor dome thereabove and a vaporizing chamber therebelow, the space above and below said baffle being in communication, said vaporizing chamber operating under a partial vacuum, a vapor compressor in interconnection with said chamber to create said partial vacuum, said compressor being interconnected with said dome, a gasoline-heating sump below said bottom section, a heater in said sump adapted to heat the gasoline therein, means to transfer said heated gasoline from said sump to said vaporizing chamber below said bale, said baie being arranged to induce flashing of said gasoline into vapor prior to entry thereof into said vapor dome by gasoline striking said baie, a carburetor, and means to flow vaporized gasoline from said vapor dome to said carburetor.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bale is of inverted V-shape and is positioned above said pipe, and a series of spaced apart, parallel plates is disposed above said inverted V-shape bathe, plates serving to form zig-zag path for said gasoline to further assure vaporization thereof.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein a tank for compressed vapor is interposed between said vaporizing chamber and said carburetor, and a magnetic blow down line communicates between said compressed vapor tank and said vaporizing chamber, and said compressed vapor tank is provided with a thermostatically controlled heater for maintaining said gas at a desired Warm temperature.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein a second baiiie extends horizontally across said vaporizing chamber, said second baie having a plurality of drain openings therethrough, said vaporizing chamber being located above said second bale, said vaporizing chamber having a horizontally extending spray pipe located therein, said spray pipe at one end extending outwardly of said gasoline tank and being connected to a pipe which at its opposite end is connected to an electric motor driven pump, said pump being connected at one side thereof to said sump for pumping heated gasoline from said sump to said spray pipe, said pump at the other side thereof being connected to a line communicating with the space above said second baflie.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,705 7/ 1938 Welborn et al. 431-2018 X 371,114 10/1887 White 48-102 R 1,876,168 9/1932 Richardson 48-102 RX 2,982,528 5/1961 Shelton 48-103 X 3,306,273 2/ 1967 Dolphin 48-102 RX JOSEPH SCOVRONEK, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

